NEWS: Solihull residents are once again being reminded to ensure they lock their vehicles and remove all valuables after an opportunist thief was sentenced to six months behind bars.

Tom Millward was arrested shortly before 5am on Thursday, April 24 as officers spotted him acting suspiciously near to Monastery Drive.

The unemployed 28-year-old was stopped by officers curious as to why he was hanging around at such an early hour. And their suspicions were soon confirmed as a quick search revealed Millward was in possession of a sat nav.

Further investigation later revealed that the sat nav had, in fact, been stolen from a nearby unlocked car moments before his arrest.

14.52

Gary Young

NEWS: More on the car raider... The Aston man was subsequently charged with theft from a motor vehicle and was handed a six month sentence at Birmingham Magistrates Court.

Commenting on the sentence, Detective Constable Chris Burt, said: “Millward is an opportunist thief who clearly travelled to the area under the cover of darkness to profit from residents who had left their vehicles unlocked - unfortunately he found an easy target.

“Officers are unapologetic that we keep reminding motorists to lock their vehicles and remove all valuables. It may seem really simple advice to most but we know that not all residents follow this simple advice, and so do offenders like Millward!”

14.54

Gary Young

HANDOVER: And with that the cavalry has arrived (for me in any case). I'll hand you over to my reporter colleague Paul Suart who will be with you for the rest of the day.

Paul will keep you up-to-date with all the latest news, sport, weather and travel throughout the afternoon and evening rush hour. Don't go away...

14.58

Paul Suart

SIGN-IN: Good afternoon blog fans.

It's me, Paul Suart, taking over the blog until the slightly earlier time of 6pm today.

Stay tuned for all the latest news and sport as well as travel updates during the rush-hour.

15.11

Paul Suart

NEWS: A Birmingham taxi driver who sexually assaulted a young passenger in his cab has today been jailed for four years.

Ilyas Sheikh, 34, of Pool Farm Road, Acocks Green, was sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court after being found guilty of sexual assault at an earlier trial.

He will remain on the Sex Offenders Register for the rest of his life.

Sheikh picked up a 19-year-old woman and three friends from Broad Street on April 12, 2013.

He dropped off three of the passengers, but instead of dropping off the fourth, he took her into the Worcestershire countryside where he sexually assaulted her.

15.20

Paul Suart

NEWS: Fledgling businesses in Birmingham can now access year-long leadership coaching courses at a discounted rate.

The great200leaders scheme, run by The Business Development Programme, is available to 200 small and medium-sized businesses that can demonstrate growth ability.

And, for a limited period only, companies eligible for the scheme can buy it throughout May, for £1,000 rather than the regular cost of £2,000 plus VAT.

The great200leaders scheme offers a plan of leadership development and is delivered over a 12-month period in ten peer group workshops, with each workshop headed by an inspirational expert speaker.

15.29

Paul Suart

TRAVEL: A travel incident to report now.

One lane has been blocked on Hagley Road out of city near to the Vicarage Road junction because on an accident.

It's been a busy time for the Unit having worked on several high-profile cases of late including the failed bomb plot involving a team of homegrown terrorists in Birmingham.

17.08

Paul Suart

NEWS: A tearaway Birmingham family have had their council house repossessed after a six-year campaign of anti-social behaviour.

Eugene Bird, 54, Sean Bird, 21, and Michael Bird, 29, will have to leave their council property in Ithon Grove on the Hawkesley estate in Kings Norton.

The trio have also received two-year Anti Social Behaviour Injunctions banning them from certain parts of the estate.

The action comes after the Bird family damaged property and verbally abused, threatened and intimidated local residents who were living in constant fear of reprisals from them.

17.20

Paul Suart

NEWS: Well blow me down.

The new Mayor of Stafford Borough has been appointed - and it's none other than singer Englebert Humperdinck's nephew.

Humperdinck, best known for the 1960s number ones ‘Release Me’ and ‘The Last Waltz’ - and more recently for representing Britain at the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest - has pledged to visit Roy Sutherland during his mayoral term.